Ruth Elizabeth Spencer

Ruth Elizabeth (Ely) Spencer of Danbury passed away on January 25, 2013 at Danbury Hospital after a short illness at the age of 97. She was born in Tuckahoe, NY on February 5, 1915. Ruth was the daughter of the late Arthur and Enna Ely and the widow of retired Danbury Fire Marshall Alton J. Spencer. She attended Danbury schools and made her life as a homemaker. She volunteered her services as a cafeteria worker for the Danbury School System, a driver for the American Red Cross and most recently, until her mid 80’s, as a secretary for the Danbury Police Department Detective Division. She enjoyed all kinds of different crafts, hobbies and was an avid reader of mystery novels. She was a member of St. James Church in Danbury.

She will be sadly missed by her daughter Gail N. Spencer; her two sons, James H. Spencer and his wife, Leni and Mark A. Spencer and his wife, Shirley. Her brother, Dwight Ely and his wife, Inez, of Ladson, SC and her sister, Edith Duzal of Kalamazoo, MI. Six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren also survive. In addition to her parents and husband, Ruth was predeceased by two sisters and four brothers. Ruth will be fondly remembered for her quick wit, sense of humor and the constant need to know where she placed her pocketbook. She always offered compassion to someone in need and listened without judgment offering comfort and care to her friends and family. She was a generous woman and held a great zest for life and loved to travel.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Tuesday at 12 noon at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, with the Rev. Joseph Krasinski, Rector of St. James Church, Danbury, officiating. Burial will follow in Wooster Cemetery, Danbury. Friends will be received on Tuesday from 11am until 12 noon the funeral home. Contributions in Ruth’s memory may be made to the Danbury Hospital, c/o Western Connecticut Health Network Foundation, 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury, CT 06810 or to the American Red Cross, 17 Roberts Ave., Danbury, CT 06810 or to the charity of one’s choice.